Oyster-steamer



(No Model!) l W. A. RAMAGE.

OYSTERSTBAMER.

No. 492,970. Patented Mar. '7, 1893.

41W? ZM u UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A RAMAGE,.OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

OYSTERSTEAM ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,970, dated March 7,1893.

Application filed November 19, 1892. Serial No. L1:52.523. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. RAMAGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oyster Steamers, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings on one sheet, making part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in oyster-Steamers in which steamor water for generating the same is used for the purpose of steamingoysters and the like, and the objects of my invention are first, toprovide means whereby the juices of oysters whether as meats or in theshell, may be preserved from Waste and evaporation by heat during theprocess of steaming; and secondly, to provide means whereby the oysterswhile undergoing the process of steaming, may be kept separate from thejuices escaping therefrom thus insuring cleanliness and loss from waste,as well.

I attain the above objects by the mechanism illustrated in the sheet ofdrawings referred to, in which;-

Figure l, is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved oystersteamer. Fig. 2, is a top plan view of Fig. l, the cover thereof beingremoved, and: Fig. 3, is an end elevation of one of the corrugated panshereinafter described.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A, is a receptacle of rectangular form which may be made of varyingmaterials and dimensions to meet special demands therefor.

B, and B2, are supports fastened interiorly at either end, and B', B',and C, C, (see Fig. 2,) are supports fastened interiorly at either sideof the receptacle A, approximately in the form and position as shown.

The supports B, and B', B', are fastened in place, so that their tops orsupporting faces shall be in a uniform horizontal plane; and thesupports B2, and C, C, are fastened in position on the interior of thereceptacle A, so that while their tops or supporting faces are in acoincident horizontal plane, it shall be one that is lower than thehorizontal plane line presented by the tops or supporting faces of thesupports Band B', B', the object of which difference in the said planelines will be presently described. l

D, D, D, are corrugated pans, corrugated approximately in the mannershown in an end view in Fig. 3. The several lines of corrugation of thepans D, D, D, are provided at their top points with a series of holes c,c, c, 85e., through which the steam is allowed passage when the steameris being utilized.

The corrugated pans D, D, D, are severally provided at one end with anend piece b, to which end piece b, is substantially secured the handlepiece a, by means of which the said corrugated pans D, D,D,are liftedabout and arranged in working place in the receptacle A'. The saidcorrugated pans D, D, D, when placed in positionin the receptacle A,rest on the several tops or resting faces of the supports B, C, C, B, B,and B2, in a longitudinally inclinedposition, their handle ends beingthe lowest, approximately in the manner represented in Fig. 1, theobject of which will be presently seen. Y

E, E, are handles attached to the outside of either end of thereceptacle A, in order thatv the same may be conveniently moved orcarried about.

F, is also a handle which is secured to the top of the cover G, of thereceptacle A, which said cover G, is fitted practically as steam tightas the demands of the case will warrant.

H, is an aperture formed near the bottom of one end of the receptacle A,and is for the purpose of fitting thereon a steam pipe for the admissionof steam when practicable and desired to be utilized for the purpose ofsteaming oysters in the meats or in the shell and the like articles.

J, is a plug or cap provided to screw on the aperture H, when water isutilized for the purpose of generating the steam, and to prevent thesame from running out.

K, is the steam or water space of the receptacle A, and L, is the oystersteaming space of the same, to which the steam from the water in thesteam or water space K, is admitted through the holes c, c, c, &c., ofthe corrugated pans D, D, D, for the purpose of steam-oysters and likearticles as has already been mentioned.

Having thus described the several parts entering into the constructionof my improved oyster steamer, I will now proceed to set forth itsoperative functions. When desired for use, especially in the steaming ofoyster meats or oysters in the shell, and likewise clams, its practicalval ue becomes apparent. The cover G, being raised off the receptacle A,the corrugated pans D, D, D, are properly disposed and arranged in placeon the tops or resting faces of the several interior shelves B, C, C, B,B', and B2, in a longitudinally inclined position as already mentionedand with the handle ends thereof resting on the supportspresentingthelowest horizontal plane line. The oysters being placed inthe corrugated pans D, D, D, and primarily resting on the upper pointsof the corrugations of the same they are ready for the process ofsteaming by admitting the same into the steam space K, through theaperture H. It Water is to be used in the steam or water space K, forthepurpose of generating steam to steam the oysters or clams, the saidsteam or Water space K, is provided with a suiiicient quantity of thesame prior to the arrangement of the corrugated pans D, D, D, and theircontents within the receptacle A, and the whole being then arranged onthe stove over a fire the steaming process quickly and naturallyfollows, after the cover G, has been closed on the oyster steamer. Asthe steaming proceeds, the steam generated in the steam or Water spaceK, arises and passes through the apertures c, c, o, the., of thecorrugations of the corrugated pans D, D, D, around the oysters into theoyster steaming space L. As the steaming process continues, the juicesexuding from the oysters iioW by gravity down the inclined bases of thecorrugations of the inclined corrugated pans D, D, D, and stops againstthe end-pieces 1J, being thus preserved from loss by evaporation andfrom contact With the shells of shell oysters, when they are desired forsteaming, and preserved for subsequent use in a cleanly and palatablecondition. When the oysters are thought sufficiently steamed, (usuallyin from five to seven minutes,) the cover G, is removed, and thecorrugated pans D, D, D, are lifted out from the receptacle A, in theirnormal inclined position, and the oysters removed and the juices pouredfrom the end opposite the handle end of the corrugated pans.

Having thus described the mode of operating my improved oyster steamer,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

In an oyster steamer a steam or Water space K, at the bottom, providedwith the aperture H; an oyster steaming space L, near the top thereof;the supports B, and B', B', and the supports C, C, and B2, arrangedrespectively interiorly in different horizontal planes; the corrugatedpans D, D, D, provided with holes c, c, c, dac., end pieces b, andhandle pieces a, and resting on the said supports in an inclinedposition; the Whole substantially constructed and combined for jointopera-tion in the manner and for the purpose herein described andspecified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day ofNovember, A. D. 1892.

WILLIAM A. RAMAGE.

Witnesses:

W. S. LELAND, J No. G. IIosMER.

